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Bacteremia caused by Clostridium intestinale
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. sameer.elsayed@cls.ab.ca
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|April 9, 2005
Summary
A rare Clostridium intestinale bacteremia case occurred in a healthy teen with fever and abdominal pain. This marks the first documented human infection by this bacterium globally.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Case Reports
Background:
- Clostridium species are known human pathogens, but Clostridium intestinale is poorly characterized in clinical settings.
- Bacteremia, the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, can lead to severe systemic infections.
Observation:
- A previously healthy adolescent female presented with acute fever and abdominal pain.
- Blood cultures were positive for an organism later identified as Clostridium intestinale.
Findings:
- The causative agent, Clostridium intestinale, was definitively identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- This case represents the first reported instance of human infection attributed to Clostridium intestinale in the global medical literature.
Implications:
- This report expands the spectrum of known Clostridium-related human infections.
- Highlights the importance of comprehensive microbiological identification, including genetic sequencing, for identifying novel or rare pathogens.
- Suggests Clostridium intestinale should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained bacteremia, particularly in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.